Rebirth: From being expelled from the imperial court to becoming a high-ranking official

County Magistrate Lu hesitated to speak, looking embarrassed, and finally turned around and left without saying anything.

After leaving the lobby, County Magistrate Lu went to the duty room to wait for the two shift leaders.

After the two squad leaders finished their questioning, they returned to the duty room together. County Magistrate Lu had been waiting there for a long time.

"Why didn't you tell me when you were asked to do this? Who am I working so hard for? Isn't it for you guys?

Really! Do you think those bandits are easy to catch? We only have a few people in the yamen, can we kill the bandits? We don’t even have a county lieutenant in the yamen now! Besides, the incident happened in Pingle County, and it was almost not a case in Xunlin County. Am I wrong? Besides, the person is fine, just lost some money..."

County Magistrate Lu was so excited that he kept talking incessantly. The two squad leaders looked embarrassed and couldn't get a word in.

After a while, the two men suddenly looked behind them and saluted in unison, "Sir."

County Magistrate Lu was startled and turned around abruptly. He saw Lin Zhaotang standing behind him and immediately broke into a sweat.

"County Magistrate Lu, please follow me." Lin Zhaotang said and turned around to leave.

County Magistrate Lu felt hopeless and followed Lin Zhaotang nervously.

He thought Lin Zhaotang was going to question him, but unexpectedly Lin Zhaotang led him all the way to a side hall where the table was already filled with wine and food.

"Master Lu, please take a seat."

County Magistrate Lu hesitated for a moment and then sat down.

It's already like this, how can things get worse?

"How many years has Lord Lu been in office?"

Lin Zhaotang asked casually.

"Six or seven years."

At this point, County Magistrate Lu relaxed.

"The appointment of a candidate for a post is even more rigorous. I believe that Lord Lu must be extremely capable to be appointed as the county magistrate."

County Magistrate Lu smiled helplessly and just lowered his head in silence in response to the compliments.

"When I was looking through the old files and household records, I sighed in my heart that the previous magistrate must have been a man of great professionalism and rigor. That's why he didn't leave too many backlogs for me.

The tax collection is clear and the household registration files are complete. This prevents me from facing huge deficits and endless old cases as soon as I take office."

County Magistrate Lu showed an unwilling smile on his face, but still did not respond.

Lin Zhaotang continued, "I have carefully questioned the yamen runners, squad leaders, and household clerks in the palace these days, and almost everyone praised Lord Lu for his ability.

Only then did I realize that the credit for all this did not belong to the previous magistrate, but to Lord Lu. It was Lord Lu who had been handling cases, supervising taxes, and integrating the runners in the yamen. "

"It's a pity that Lord Lu, with his talent, can only waste his time as a county magistrate." Lin Zhaotang said this from the bottom of his heart.

County Magistrate Lu then raised his eyes and looked at Lin Zhaotang.

"Sir, just say what you want to say. There's no need to flatter me."

"I heard that the last county magistrate was promoted because of his political achievements. But Lord Lu, with such talent, can only be the county magistrate. I know Lord Lu must be unwilling and aggrieved."

County Magistrate Lu sighed, "What can I do? It's my fault that I'm not as talented as others. I've failed the exams for so long, so I must be worse than others."

"You can't say that. Not everyone with talent and knowledge can make the list. Sir Lu, don't be too modest.

However, it is indeed very difficult to be promoted to the position of county magistrate as a juren, and one must have extraordinary talents and achievements. "Lin Zhaotang paused here and said, "I am just a county magistrate who has just entered the officialdom, and I cannot make any promises to Lord Lu. However, there is one thing that I can guarantee."

Lin Zhaotang looked at County Magistrate Lu and said solemnly: "During my tenure, I will report all of Lord Lu's achievements truthfully and will not let Lord Lu do the work for me. I only hope that Lord Lu will be willing to assist me and work together with me to govern Xunlin County well."

County Magistrate Lu looked at Lin Zhaotang with a complicated expression, not knowing whether to believe what Lin Zhaotang said.

Lin Zhaotang knew that he was just talking nonsense now, and no matter how nice his words were, the other party might not believe him, so he had to continue.

"I am only a successful candidate in this year's imperial examination. I have no experience in governance and really need the help of County Magistrate Lu. Even if it is not for me, please consider the people of Xunlin County and join hands with me in governance."

County Magistrate Lu finally raised his glass to toast Lin Zhaotang and said, "You are too polite, my Lord. I am the county magistrate, and it is my duty to assist you in governing Xunlin County. I will do my best to assist you."

Although the atmosphere was still not harmonious, the conversation was open. The two of them drank politely and talked about many county affairs.

Regardless of whether he was willing or not, now that things had come to this, County Magistrate Lu could no longer hide anything and explained all the matters, big and small, in the county, including the case handling procedures and other matters, to Lin Zhaotang one by one.

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When the two men finished drinking and left, they saw two men coming out of the side hall in a relatively friendly manner, and the inner and outer shift yamen runners who were waiting for news not far away all breathed a sigh of relief.

When Lin Zhaotang returned to the inner court, Zhao Bantou and others came over.

"Master Lu, what did Master Lin say?"

When Lin Zhaotang and County Magistrate Lu were drinking and chatting, Xiao Ke was serving beside them and listening to everything they said.

Seeing that County Magistrate Lu did not answer, Xiao Ke repeated what Lin Zhaotang said to several people.

Finally, he said, "Lord Lu, I am not saying that our new Grand Master is really good. I think he is serious about what he said."

County Magistrate Lu glared at Xiao Ke and said, "What are you looking at? You're serious about it."

Several squad leaders advised: "Whether it is true or not, since Lord Lu is the county magistrate, he has to do these things anyway. Why be so awkward?"

"Yes. Besides, I think Mr. Lin is a decent man. He will not take all the credit for your work. You might as well trust him. Maybe he will become the magistrate in a few years."

County Magistrate Lu still said the same thing: "What do you know?"

County Magistrate Lu thought to himself, it's not just the current county magistrate who has said these high-sounding words, haven't the previous county magistrates also said these high-sounding words?

The county magistrate had been a hands-off manager for several years, and all the affairs of the county were supported by him, the county magistrate. He managed the county affairs in an orderly manner and had to deal with the county magistrate's various strange ideas.

In the end, because of his diligent and hard work, the county magistrate was promoted.

He even refused to recommend him.

Naturally, he was unwilling to do this, so he secretly suppressed several unimportant cases and did not report them to his superiors.

Until the county magistrate left office, no one noticed it and he was promoted with peace of mind.

Which of these nobles who were born as Jinshi scholars can't say nice things? They are just trying to win people over to be their slaves.

County Magistrate Lu was still angry, but he also knew that whether he was willing or not, he had to deal with the matter.

What does this new Jinshi know?